You can buy a new RCM 1705450305 from Mercedes online $159 plus shipping if you search you can find the lowest shipping rate.

 

That's about $166 too much!

 

Welcome back! i haven't seen your name in a while, sir.

 

HE'S BAAAAAAACK !!!!!!
We have missed you DJ !
I hope all is well.
I spoke with one of your fellow employees ( actually IM'd ) a few months back and she assured me you were OK.
You could make a bunch of people happy by posting a journal of your experience with your car at Begi.

 

Glad to see you back here again, don't be a stranger.

 

In my case, having it permanently fixed for $179 was a deal. I live in Canada. By the time I pay shipping and tax I'd be way over the $159, and still have to have it installed. As well, from what I have read, even the new ones can have the solder connection problems.

hotwheels

 

To Anyone who might know, If the air pump(smog pump) is running after the car is warmed up and the P0410 code comes on intermittently and can reset itself sometimes is that the relay in the RCM Thank you Phil

 

Normally that is the relay sticking caused by burnt contacts. The relay should be replaced and not just cleaned.

 

Im going to throw my story in with dealing with this horrible code.

After throwing away about $400 (soldering irons, used RCM's, etc) on stuff that didnt work the right and proper way to fix this is to buy a new one. (this is after making sure your air pump works)

What finally fix this problem for me was a brand new RCM. They only cost 199+ shipping, and this was from a benz dealership in south atlanta. This is the link to a new RCM. RELAY. APPARATUS CASE AND CONTROL UNITS. Mercedes SLK 32 AMG KOMPRESSOR (2001 - 2004) # 1705450305

Ive come to the realization that since this car is technically a German car, you cant jimmy rig or band-aid fix it like you would with say a camaro or a mustang, those are simple to fix. This thing requires new stuff to work right, not band-aid stuff that will allow it to work then fail again a week or 2 later. Thats my 2 cents.

Save yourself the headache and just buy a new RCM. They dont cost much and your car will run that much better since you have 5 new relays.

 

You have been here since May, had trouble with the air pump relay, and then decided that instead of replacing just one relay you would replace them all by getting a new RCM. That is fine, but you are talking out the back of your head if you think that the four other relays will make the car go better unless there was a problem with them as well.

Among other things you told us you were an auto appraiser, Crossfires were a dead loss for holding their value, you got your Crossfire for 8K and have been at pains in general to tell us were we were going wrong, thanks for that but I think we were doing all right before you came on the scene. Auto Appraisers work for insurance companies and make their money by screwing the policy holders, can you feel the love?

Keep the thoughts coming, as we do have a sense of humor on this forum.

 

I just read it as "if" your perceived ability exceeds your actual skill set - you can always rectify with a purchase of a new one.

He just took the long way to admit it..

 

I dont work for an insurance company, i work for a TPA who does work for various insurance companies. I still stand by what i said, crossfire's in general had poor resale value when bought new, but again that is not why anybody would buy one. I hope people would buy the car because they like the car, buying the car to sell it later is stupid to begin with. I dont know what happen or what you posted in that other thread as I never went back into it as I was certain it would turn into a flame war like your trying to start with this one. Im just relaying what work for me in case another lost soul wonders to this forum with this problem, because if they own a crossfire THEY WILL run into a problem. This thread has alot of good information, the best one for me was to replace the whole unit, I prolly shouldnt have said it will make your car run better as it runs the same, just dont have that stupid check engine light on anymore.


Its a $200 dollar part, if I had known that from the start, I would have just bought a new one from the start, that information wasnt really in this thread so I added it with a link to where I bought mine and anybody that needed a new one could do the same. These things
sell for $140 used on ebay, which is a rip off. Just get a new one if your thinking about buying a replacement. I have 2 RCM's sitting on my shelf with burnt out air pump relays. One was the originally from the car and the other was a used one I bought of ebay. I only posted so I can save somebody from buying a used one as it is not worth it.

Onehundered80, I dont want any issues with you and I will refrain from posting since "newbies" arent really allowed to speak or voice their opinion. I'll just read stuff in the background like ive been doing. People like you make it where new people dont want to post and thus they dont. The Crossfire has been out of production for what 6 years now? Your going to start getting newer people in here as the old heads are selling them and moving on to newer cars. I feel bad for any that come across you, as they will be left thinking Crossfire community is a bad community overall, which is how I feel now.

 

Your right, I gave the soldering a shot and failed. However, if I knew the part was only $200 to begin with, I would have just bought a new one from the start.

There is a post about a article autoweek did on these cars recently. It sums up the problem with this car, Chrysler nor MB want anything to do with this car, so trying to explain to them what part your looking for is like pulling teeth, they are clueless. A crossfire owner basically has to figure it out themselves.

Thankfully there is this forum that still contains alot of information with the usual problems that come along with the car and some solutions for it.

However, since im basically getting bulled, I'll just refrain from posting on this board as newbies aren't allowed to ask questions or make post without getting flamed it appears.

 

I am new here and have not been bullied or flamed. I have asked questions and bought some parts from some members and have been treated great. That's my experience so far.

 

I'm not bullying you at all, just stating that the RCM can be fixed quite cheaply, it can be fixed for <$10 if you are handy with a soldering iron and have the time. A new one will fix the part and anyone who spends $140 for a used one is silly to waste their money. Mine cost $45 and is perfect. Mercedes will not touch the car as it is not a Mercedes, Chrysler will touch the car but in most cases know little about the cars idiosyncrasies.

 

WHat you are not 'getting' is that the new part has the same issues as the old. Go read the threads on "stuck key" and you'll see. If the stuck key gets you, and you pay the $900 or whatever dollars to get it replaced, the problem comes back. If you do our mod, it NEVER comes back. My stuck key happened at 41,000 miles. I now have 97000 - I have driven the car farther on the "jimmy rig" fix than on the original part.

Same goes for the RCM, the flow of the solder on the board when shipped new is (as is often the case) very thin. Temperature fluctuations (which can be over 100 degrees in the module box, even with the fan working) cause fractures in the solder due to the different temperature coefficients of the solder, pins and board material. Buy a new board and it IS fixed. For now.

Or... spend $20 at the local radio shop to have it re-soldered and you are good to go. POSSIBLY the tech (like us) will flow enough solder to make it a long-term fix. If not, it's $20 to get it fixed again. BUt putting a new board in with the same weakness is no better fix, it only costs more.

You can get your feelings hurt, or you can learn from those who know more and are here trying to help. If you think you know more, fine. YOu don't need us.

BUt I will tell you something - I have a degree in electronics, I have my FCC license, my CET, 30 years in component-level troubleshooting. I have led teams of technicians, I have taught electronics, I have designed numerous RF devices and seen them built and work. I served as a consultant to two car dealers in GA on electrical problems that their service guys could not fix - yet, when 180 or Rudy or Rob or DJ (and many others) say "it is this way, Mark", I listen. Oh, I didn't at first, but I do now.

Even if I doubt them, in time, they are proven right. It does not offend me to read your posts, I am amused - because I know the mistakes you are making when you post things like "jury rig" or "band aid". You REALLY think that putting a new part in with the same weakness is better than addressing the weakness itself. You REALLY think that we are "missing it'. Fine, then why ask us a damn thing from here on? Why hang around the fools? We are hopeless and you can't help us. Good By!

So.....
Fine. Leave or stick around - no matter to me. But if you came here thinking you are gonna "set them right", you are deluded.

 

Yea, but we mercy-less-ly talked about you behind your back at the Dragon, about your wild stories of romps with Hooters girls, your 3 month marriage, your getting a ticket for 8 mph over the limit (and how you think that makes you Mario Andretti) - you are a running joke around here.

 

PG, you have a disassociated personality transference disorder.
At $300 per hour for therapy, that diagnosis is gonna cost you $10.

 

Hey I like hooters girls. That's why I went to the Kennesaw Hooters car show today. In addition Mario asks me for advice all the time soo there!